Destruction of animal meal : use of lipidic fractions as biodiesel or biolubricant and of the defatted residue as raw material for polymer preparation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate two new complementary and independent possible uses of animal meal. The lipidic fraction was used as biodiesel or biolubricant and the defatted residue or the raw meal was considered as raw material for polymer preparation. All the studies were led following the alimentary general direction quality rules. High flow extraction tools and rapid analysis methods of major and minor components were developed. This resulted in animal meal characterisation and allowed us to choose the chemical transformation strategy. Conversion of the lipidic fraction, based on an acyl-transfer reaction, gave free fatty acids directly transformed into fatty acid esters well known for biofuel applications. In the future such specific technology could be used to decontaminate animal meal during its transformation. In addition, the raw animal meal or the defatted meal was used to synthesise polymers. Animal biopolymer structure was broken by thermomechanical treatment (liquefaction) to produce new monomeric units. Animal meal liquefaction with phenol provided promising results. This polymer synthesis would be a great way to add value to large amounts of animal meal.